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There are many interesting items on the cover that relate heavily to the themes of the album. First, you find the Holy Bible on top, with the book “Art of Seduction” by Robert Greene below it, and both are near some Magnum condoms. On top of the Bible is a BIC lighter and a joint, which heavily contrasts with the Bible and coincides with “Kush and Corinthians”. The contrasts and juxtaposition essentially makes up the themes of the album.

The book on the bottom was identified in this thread as “Virtually You” by Elias Aboujaoude. It covers the way that the internet has affected our lives and the way we see ourselves. For those born in the 80s, technology is a huge part of one’s self, which is another theme of the album: being someone who was born in the 80s coming up in this world. .

Answering a fan’s question as to why exactly he put those two items in the same picture, Kendrick spoke on the imagery:

It’s taboos of the world, you know? I had got a of criticism on that album cover matter of fact, same way how I got with this [“good kid, m.A.A.d city”’s cover], you know. And my whole thing on the the gun clip and the condoms next to the Bible: people think that if you have a Bible, it supposed to be some holy water on the side of it, right? That’s a person who’s saved and living his life with freedom. I’m not speaking on them: they’re good. I’m speaking on the person that’s looking at this clip he just put on his drawer, these condoms, a woman’s lipstick and sees this Bible: showing that he’s still a human being, but he’s trying to find himself at the same time. You dig what I’m saying? That was the whole point of the thing.